Effort to Block Fox Renewal Calls for Proceeding Status Change

The FCC Media Bureau should change the status of the license renewal proceeding for Fox’s WTXF-TV Philadelphia from restricted to permit-but-disclose, said a letter Tuesday from the Media and Democracy Project (MAD). MAD has filed a petition to deny WTXF’s renewal (see 2307060065), and changing the proceeding’s status “would permit broader public participation” by other entities, the letter said. In restricted proceedings, ex parte presentations are generally prohibited but are allowed in permit-but-disclose if they are filed in the record. “Other public interest groups have contacted MAD and expressed an interest in participating in this proceeding.” Former Fox executive and lobbyist Preston Padden, who backs the MAD petition, has begun raising money online to fund the proceeding. Fox didn’t comment.